Jury Duty - Pain in the Gluteus Maximus?
I've never served on a jury before. I've always tried to avoid such a hassle whenever I could, as most people try to do.
I've wondered many times what it would be like. I've read a few Grisham novels, and I get the gist of it, but it's still nothing like actually sitting in a courtroom as a juror. From what my father has told me of his jury duty experiences, before he learned that he was eligible to be excused practically every time for undue hardship, I rather suspect that the jury experience may destroy any shred of idealism I have left and make me fully and totally cynical. But I still want to try it. If just to say that I've participated in the cornerstone of the American justice process.
I would be more reluctant to be so eager to volunteer if I were still in Southern California, in the city. But out here in the sticks, where men are men and government is not so readily visible, I'm just much more willing to go for it and am looking forward to it.
Juries are extremely powerful. Even separated as individual jurors, they are arguably the most powerful people in the courtroom, even though they are not generally recognized as such. And I feel it at odds with my beliefs to avoid jury duty wherever I can and yet be horrified at the direction the country is going. Juries are a powerful institution to delay and disrupt tyranny - as long as courageous and knowledgeable citizens are aware of their responsibility and exercise it.
I'm reading everything I can from the Fully Informed Jury Association, as well as Washington's laws, in the RCW, relating to juries and trials. I'm especially interested in the concept of jury nullification. Therein lies the real power of juries.
There are some relevant sayings regarding juries, “When you go into court, you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty”, and “Having your fate rest in the hands of a jury is the same as entrusting yourself to surgery with a mentally retarded doctor”, as well as “A jury is a group of twelve people of average ignorance”. And unfortunately, these days I think these sayings are all too true. The people, those whom the jurors are drawn from, are just too stupid and ignorant, and those that might be a little smarter than the average, really have better things to do. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable entrusting my life and freedom to 12 average ignorant Americans these days. At least not for Justice's sake. The saying, “A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.” is true. But I'd rather express it as, "A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to be manipulated by the lawyers. May the better manipulator win."
So, sometime this month I'll find out when, or rather if, I get to serve. And if I survive voire dire, then I'll likely be a juror. It's not really much though. It's just for the county District Court. I'm fairly sure that the caseload will consist of fairly petty civil cases, no hot murder trials or cases where the gov is bringing the charges for victim-less crime against the defendant.
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